CASIMIRA
dragon-shifting daughter of ashhal and ryatah
He is staring at the red ‘V’ marking on her foreleg, the one that had appeared after her participation in the Alliance. She had not seen him there, because while she had won her first battle, she had chosen not to continue. While she had done well to keep her more feral dragon form in check, she could feel that it was flimsy, still lacking the stronger foundation that would come with more experience—but experience that she was not interested in gaining in the tournament-style situation.
She nods her head silently in response to what he says, understanding, to an extent. There were many other dragon shifters, and most of them did not seem to struggle the way that she did. Perhaps they were simply born stronger than her—perhaps they were simply born to be dragons, period. Ryatah had always seemed a little perplexed that Casimira had been gifted with such a thing, remarking on how she is not sure where it had come from since it was not from her, and not from Ashhal.
Perhaps it had been an accident, a power meant for someone else, and by some twist of fate it had found her.
Her silence becomes weighted when he comments that he had done terrible things. She had refrained from saying anything earlier, had intended on walking away without saying anything, but instead she finds herself telling him, “You killed my mother.” There is, oddly enough, no malice to her tone. It is said in a matter of fact kind of way, a statement of truth, but an echo of the old pain fights through the pale blue of her eyes at the memory of losing her. “Ryatah. She is one of the angels that lives in Hyaline.”
And then, surprising even herself, she says quietly around the knot in her chest, her eyes closed, “I forgive you. When I first saw you on this beach I didn’t think that I would, but I do. And I know she would forgive you, too, if she were to ever see you again.” With a rueful laugh and a shake of her head she lifts her eyes back to his face, a hesitant smile on her lips. “You’re not the first to hurt her, and she always forgives. But I cannot speak for everyone.”
@
Gale